Electrical safety-razor



N. CRANE.

ELECTRCAL SAFETY RAZOR.

APPLlcAHoN mio 1uLY\9.19oz. nenswzo AUG. 11.1911.

A JLl/UUUUUUUUULKlI/L/- llklllllllllIHIHHHHI v51 ce sx f77 /77 Jil/6426507 N. CRANE.

ELEcTmCAL SAFETY RAZOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIS. 1907. RENEWED AUG. 11.1917.

1,303,539. Patented May13,1919.,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2..

79. 7.7 z@ @40S/02 a9 'ff 4f y@ 77 5 W mi 77 77 7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTON CRANE, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, -BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES F. BROWN, 0F READING, MASSACHUSETTS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 13, 1919.

Application led July 19, 1907, Serial No. 384,507. Renewed August 11, 1917. Serial No. 185,799.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, NEWTON CRANE, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Electrical Safety-Razors, of whichrthe following is a.

armature connected to the blade, there being suitable make and break mechanism for closing the circuits alternately through the electromagnets. So far as I am aware, a device of this.character has not been in practical use, owing to the character of the mechanism suggested for the purpose of reciprocating the blade.

The object of the present invention is manifold. One of its objects is to provide for a safety razor having a reciprocatory smooth-edged blade, and a rotary motor for effecting the reciprocation of said blade without causing adisa' reeable vibration of the safety,v razor itselfg. In accomplishing this object of theinvention, I have had further in mind to provide a light motor of such compactness that it could be mounted in the handle-of the razor, and of such power that it could ei'ect the reciprocation of the bladevwith the proper force and energy and ata high rate of speed. By employing a rotary motor, the only reciprocating part is the blade itself which, being light and vibrated athigh speed, is insi'iiiicient to overcome the inertla of the razor as a whole, so that the razor may be used with the same facility as one in Iwhich a stationary blade is mounted. A further object of the invention is to so construct the razor .that the blade-carrying end may be immersed in water without danger of moisture finding its Way to the motor itself.

Figurel represents ay longitudinal section through the razor on a plane parallel with the edge of the blade.

Figf2 represents a section on the -line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

of Flg. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 represents a lsection on the line 11-11 of Fig. 2.

' Figs. 6, 7 and 8 respectively represent the connection between the arma-ture shaft of the motor and the blade.

Fig. 9 represents the head of the razor.

10 represents an edge view thereof.

Fig. 11 represents a section therethrough.

Fig. 12 represents an end view thereof.

Fig. 13 shows the head of the razor with the pivoted plate raised and with the blade removed.

Fig. 14 illustrates the blade.

Fig. 15 illust-rates one of the blade adjusting disks.

The form of razor embodying my invention herein illustrated consists of a tubular handle 44, one end of which is closed by a c'ap 7l having an aperture through which the cable extends. An insulated bushing 72 is inserted in the aperture as shown. The other end of `the handle is internally threaded as at 7-3, to receive a holder, comprising an external threaded support 74, a plate 5 and' a hinged cover: plate 77. To said support 74 is secured by any desired means the plate 75 which is adapted to receive and guide the blade 76. The said plate 75 is substantially rectangular in plan view, as shown in Fig. 13,' and is formed with the usual teeth 177 which bear against the face of the person shaving. The plate 75 is recessed or rabbeted to receive the. blade 76, said blade being held in place by a cover plate 77 hinged to the plate 75, as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. The blade 76 is illustrated in Fig. 14. It has a smooth cutting edge and at its ends is provided with slots 78 to receive guide pins 79 which yhold it against all except llongitudinal movement. These guide pins, as shown in Figs. 11, 13 and 15,are formed eccentrically upon disks 80 arranged in apertures in the plate 75 near the ends thereof. Each disk has in its outer end a slot 81 to receive an instrument by which it "may be rotated, and is also formed with a peripheral or circumferential groove 82 to receive the end of a set screw Siipassed into the end of the plate 75, as shown in Fig. 1. By loosening the set screws 83 and vention is the construction of the holder which adapts the blade to free itself of bits of hair or other matter which might work between the members of the holder and the blade. As appears from the drawings, the plates 75 and 77 which embrace the blade bear/on the opposite surfaces thereof adjacent the cutting edge of the blade, and form a runway or guideway in which the blade is held. As appears from Figs. 2, 11 and 12, the bearing of the plates is not continuous f over the entire surface of the blade, but that bearing near the cutting edge of the blade is only near the outer. edges of the plates. A short distance back of the edges of the plates and blades, the plates are cutaway, leaving shoulders 751 and 771 respectively, back of which are clearancespaces on both sides of the blade. These spaces .are provided in order that the bits of matterwhich work into the guideway may be freed from the' bearing surfaces of the blade and plates, so that they will not cause the bladeito stick.

Arranged in the handle of the razor is a rotaryrmotor. This motor may be made in any suitable way. I have illustrated the eld magnet 90,as being of the permanent ltype with the two opposing poles 91 91 which extend ,toward the Acap Iend vof the handle. The neutral end of the magnet 1s arranged close to an internal flange 92, be-

tween which and the magnet is inserted awaterproof packing 93.V The magnet is held in place by screws 94 as shown in Fig. 2. Through Vthe neutral end of the magnet and through the washer and flange 92, is a'sleevey 95 having at its ends bushings 96 which are preferably made of graphite or other suitable material. To the ends of the poles ofthe magnet is secured a metallic or soft iron brush-supporting member 97. This consists of a disk having a iange 98 to overlap the ends of the pole pieces ofthe magnetand' a hub 99 to receive a bushing 100 formed of any suitable material, such as graphite. The three bushings 96, 96 and 100 are arranged in axial alinement to receive the armature shaft 101 which is journaled therein. The upper end of this shaftvprojects through the bushing 96 and is threaded to receive a crank member 102. -Said crank member 102has aneccentric threaded aperture to receive an eccentric .or crank pin 103 which extends through an aperture in the ber 102. When the cluding the armature shaft,

plate 75, and enters 'a slot 105 in the rear Vedge of the blade 76. When the armature shaft is rotated, the crank; member and v ing the pin 103 in a threaded socket inthe member 102, the said pin may be adjustable toward and from the axis ofsa-id member as -shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. In thiscase, the

pin 103 has a tapered threaded portion which extends into an eccentric aperture 106 formed eccentrically with a spring disk 107 set in the eccentric aperture 108 in the mempin 103 is driven tightly into place, it spreads the spring disk 107 so A as to lock 'it in its socket in any position to which it may be adjusted.

Referring again to Figs. l and 2, it will be seen that the member 102 bearsagainst the outer bushing 96. A spring 110 is placed upon said armature shaft so that the member 102 is held tightly against the said bushing so as to prevent the escape of water past the parts to1 the motor. The armature, as illustrated, is of the tri-polar type, and is provided with the usual windings or coils which are connected with the commutator sections 111, as shown in Fig. 4. These sections are secured to the face of a disk 112 on the armature shaft as shown in Fig. 2. The rilijsh-supporting member 97 has about its u through which carbon or other brushes114 exten to engage the commutator sections 111, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Against eachbrush bears a spring 115 secured by a screw 116 tol the outer face of the insulating ring 113. The two conductors of the cable .are respectively connected to the two4 springs 115.

By arranging the field magnet, of which the exteriorV is cylindrical-with its poles eX- tending away from the blade holder, I am able to locate the armature, the commutator and the brushes relatively remote from the holder. When the cap of the handle is removed, it exposes the brush holder, so that the Vbinding posts, which attach the conductors to the brush springs, may be reached with a suitable instrument. And by removing the screws 94 94 and unscrewing the ec-` centric member 102, the whole motor, in-

may be removed for inspection or repair. The packing or 99, a ring 113 of insulating material .'00 l gasket 93 prevents water from passing'into A the handle between the magnet and the handle, and between the sleeve 95 and the mag, net; and the character of the two bushings 96 96 is such that water cannot pass between them and the armature shaft. Hence with the motor having its field magnet, its armature and commutator arranged as described, and with the means for rendering the handle watertight (at the holder end), the blade and holder may be held under a runni stream of water or immersed ina basin o water without danger of injury to the motor or shortlcircuiting the current.

It is evident that the invention is not lim ited to the details of construction and arrangement which I have illustrated and described. For instance, the particular means for mounting and holding the blade, though simple and convenient may be changed, so that the invention may be embodied in safety razors of other kinds` or havin" other forms oflliolding means. Again fiell 'magnets of other kinds may be Aused for ythe motor, and other details of the motor may be varied, though the form-shown is the best,

for neral purposes, now known to me.

avng thus explained thevnaturel of my said invention and described a` way of constructingand using the same, although without attempting to-set forth all of theforms in which it may be made, or all of thei'nodes of its use; I declare that what I claim is:

l.4 A safety razor comprisin ay tubular casing which constitutes a hand e, a head or holder afixed to the .end of the cas'in at right angles thereto, said head A'or ho der having a "guideway, a smooth-.edged razor blade arranged in the guideway, an electric motor concealed within said casing and hav' ing a a rotary armature shaftextending longitudinally within said handle, and a crank on the end of said amature shaft engaging said blade to reciprocate. it.y

2. A safety razor com rising a `tubular casing which constitutes a' andle, an electric motor concealed within said handle and having a rotary armature shaft, means for closing the end of said casing to the passage of Water, ahead or holder on the said end of said handle, a reciprocatory smooth edged razor blade supported by said head or handle, and Inans for transmitting power from the end ofsaid armature shaft to said blade.

3. A safety razor comprising a. tubular casing which constitutes a handle having a threaded `end, `a head'or'holder secured to the threaded end ofthe handle, said head comprising a threaded Ingen? engaging the y.

said threaded end, and bers Aformlng a guideway between then'i, a razor blade in said guideway, an electric motor in said handle having a rotary amature shaft, and a crank on the end of said shaft for reciprocatin said blade.

4. safety razor comprising a tubular casing which constitutes a handle, an electric motor concealed within said casing and having a rotary amature shaft, means in said handle encircling sadarmature shaft for preventing the entrance of water into said handle, a head or holder closing the end of saidthandle and arranged substantially at right angles thereto, a reciprocatory blade supported by said head, and a crank pin carriedby the armature shaft and engaging a slot in said blade. v

5. A safety razor comprising a handle, a .blade guide secured to said handle, a blade having a smooth cutting edge mountedre;` ciprocatively in said guide andvl provided with a slot betweenrits ends transverse to the direction of its edge' andin the same plane with the edge, an electric motor contained in said handle, having a rotar armature shaft, and a .crank carried ,by said shaft extending linto said blade guide and contained in said slot; the blade being located in aplane approximately at rightan'gles to the shaft, whereby/thelatter is enabled to reciprocate the blade by direct engagement.

' 6. A safety razor comprising a rotary electric motor, kconsisting of fieldl poles, a rotary armature, anal-mature shaft, a commutator and brushes, in combination with a hollow handle inclosing and concealing said motor, a holder on the end of sa-idhandle, a smooth-edged reciprocatory blade on vsaid holder connected to saidarmatu-re shaft sol 8. A safety razor comprising a holder; a

blade mountedv to reciprocatdthereon lngitudinally of its cutting edge; a handle alixed to said holder at right angles thereto; an

armature shaft journaled Within said handle perpendicularly to said blade and having a power transmitting connection with said blade; a field magnet in said handle having its' poles'extending away from said blade,

an armature on said shaft in the field of said magnet; a commutator on said shaft;

v,and means at the holder end vof said handle for preventing the access of Water to said motor. A

9. 'A safety` razor comprising a holder; a blade mounted to reciprocate thereon longitudinally of its cutting edge; a handle affixed to said holder; an electric motor in said handle includingan armature shaft. and ar eccentric member in said holder affixed to said armature shaft and engaging a slot in the blade, said holder including a separable cover plate at the side of the blade away from the handle.

10. A safety razor comprising a recipro catory blade; a holder having guides foi said blade, said holder consisting of a bas plate, a. cover, and a hollow member on'th' nally of its edge, and having such edge be-.

tween the guard teeth and the surface on which itis adapted to operate, a hollow handle affixed to said holder perpendicularly to vthe plane'of said blade and holder, and on the same side of the blade as the guard teeth, and agmotor in said handle having a rotary armature shaft engaged With the blade for reciprocating the same.

l2. A safety razor comprisinga holder, a smooth-edged blade mounted thereon to reciprocate longitudinally of its edge, a hollow handle connected by a threaded joint with said holder, a rotary shaft extending from the handle into operative relation to the blade, and having means' thereon for reciprocating said blade, a motor in said handle forrotating said shaft, and means for adjusting said blade transversely of its edge relatively to said shaft.

13;- A safety razor comprising a .closed said blade, eomplemental guide elements on tubular handle, a holder closing one end of said handle, means for sealing said endV against the entrance of Water, a ycap closing the other end of said handle, a smooth-edged blade on said holder reciprocatory in lines longitudinal of its edge, and an'electri motor confined Within said handle for reciprocating said blade, all so arranged that the holder end of the razor may b e'iinmersed to remove lather from the blade Without admitting Water to the motor.

14. A safety razor comprising a handle,y

aholder mounted on said handle, having a smooth surface bearing vterminating in a straight and thin edge, a blade mounted reciprocatively on said holder to travel in a line approximately parallel to the edge of the holder,'and having a straight smooth edge parallel to its linev of reciprocation projecting suiiiciently far beyond the edge of the holder for the desired purpose, a rotary motor contained in saidV handle,andwmeans for causing lsaid motor to reciprocate said blade.

15. A safety razor comprising ay handle, a holder mounted on said handle, having a smooth surface bearing terminating in a straight and thin edge, a blade mounted reciprocati'vely on said holderto travel in a line approximately parallel to the edge of the holder, and having a straightV .smooth edge parallel to its line of reciprocationprojecting sufficiently far beyond the edge of purpose, an electhe holder for the desired guide pins, whereby tric motor contained in said handle and having a rotary armature shaft, and a crank pin on said shaft projecting into direct engagement With said blade for reciprocating the blade.

16. A safety razor comprising a handle, a holder closing the end of said handle, a smooth-edged reciprocatory blade carried by said holder, said blade having a. slot or notch extending transversely of its edge, an electric motor concealed in said handle and having a rotary armature shaft extending toward, and being substantially perpendicular to said blade, and a crank pin on said shaft extending into said slot or notch for engaging the bounding edges thereof, and thereby reciprocating the blade.

17. In a safety razor, a blade holder, a smooth-edged blade carried by said holder and adapted to reciprocate therein, means for reciprocating said blade with respect to saidholder, complemental guide elements on said holder andblade independent of said reciprocating means for defining the path of the blade, one of said guides being adjustable to shift the position of the blade, and means for adjusting the same.

18. In a safety razor, a blade holder, a smooth-edged blade carried by said holder and adapted to reciprocate therein, means for imparting reciprocative movements to tions of the blade in a del'initepath, said guide being adjustable toward and from the edge of the holder, and means for adjusting the same.

20. In a safety razor, a blade-holder, a rei' ciprocatory smooth-edged blade carried by said holder, means lassociated with said holder for reciprocating said blade, guide pins mounted on said holder for defining the path of the blade and adjustable toward and from the edge of the holder to vary the amount of projection of the blade, and means for so adjusting said pins.

21. In a safety razor, a holder provided With a guard plate, eccentrics pivoted to the holder` and provided with guide pins, a reciprocating blade cooperating with said the eccentrics may be adjusted for shifting the guide pins and the blade With relation to an edge of the guard plate, and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the blade relative to the guard plate. l

22. In a safety razor, a blade-holder having members adapted to embrace the opposite surfaces of a blade and form a runway for suoli blade, one of such members being a guard, a reciprocatory blade having a straight cutting edge held in said runway, a handle fixed/,to one of said members having internal/bearings, and a shaft rotatably mounted in said handle having a crank pin for reciprocating said 4blade in directions -parallel with its cutting edge, the runway being enlarged on both sides of the blade within the mouth thereof to provide a clearance space.

23. In a safety razor, a blade-holder comprising plates one of which is a guard t'o prevent 'cutting the skin of the user, adapted to embrace a blade between them at their edges, having plane bearing on the opposite faces of the blade near the cutting edge thereof, and being cut away back of their edges on both sides of the blade to provide clearance spaces, one of the plates having y a straight edge, in combination with a reciprocatin blade having a straight cutting edge para lel to such plate edge, guiding means engaged with sa1d blade back of its cuttin edge to retain the blade between said p ates, and means for reciprocating'said blade. v

24. In a safety razor, the combination of a blade-holder and a blade of substantially uniform thickness mounted to reciprocate in said holder in directions parallel with its cutting edge, the holder consisting of members one of which is adapted to bear on the surface acted upon and has an edge parallel to and back of the edge of the blade, arranged to bear on the adjacent surface of the blade with a plane bearing near the cutting edge thereof and being abruptly cleared away from the blade back of such edge.

25- In a safety razor, the combination of a blade-holder4 and a blade mounted to reciprocate in said holder, the holder being constructed with means for guidin the blade and with provisions on both si es of the blade for permitting the blade to free itself of bits of hair which may work into the blade guideway.

26. In a safety razor, the combination of a blade-holder, a blade mounted to reciprocate in said holder, and formed with a slot between its ends perpendicular to its cutting edge, the holder consisting of plates formin plane bearings for the opposite surfaces o said blade ad] acent the cutting edge of the latter, and being recessed back of their bearing portions to free the blade, one of such plates having an edge parallel to and back of the edge of the blade, and being arrangled to bear against the surface acted on, W en in use, a tubular handle secured to the other of said plates, an electric motor having a rota-table armature shaft in said handle, andaneccentric pin on the end of the shaft projecting into the slot in the blade for reciprocatmg the latter.

27. A safety razor comprising a handle, a blade-holder comprising two plates, one of which is rigidly secured to the handle and the other ofwhich is hinged to the first,

said plates having a space between them to receive a blade, and clamping members pivoted to the ends of one of said plates, each said member having a iin arranged to enter an aperture in the adjacent end of the other late. p In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature, inpresence of two witnesses.

` NEWTON CRANE. Witnesses:

A. L. FoLsoM, P. W. Pnzzm'n. 

